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The University of Mississippi Athletics
GAME PREVIEW: Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt
9/15/2008 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. Looking to open the season 3-1 for the first time since 2002, the Ole Miss football team opens SEC play Saturday evening at 6 p.m. against Vanderbilt at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Ole Miss enters the weekend coming off a 34-10 victory over Samford in which the Rebels racked up 424 yards of total offense. Senior Mike Wallace reeled in four catches and finished with a game-high 101 yards receiving, while sophomore quarterback Jevan Snead, who leads the SEC with six touchdown passes this season, finishes 13-of-24 for 222 yards against the Bulldogs.
"After watching the film again and putting grades on everything, I was really pleased with most of the football game," Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt said."There was a lot of improvement, especially in the running game. Like I mentioned Sunday, it's always good to win. There are still some things that we can get better at doing. I just liked our attitude on Sunday. We came back with a really good day of practice. We are anxious to get going on Vanderbilt."
Senior safety Jamarca Sanford paces the Rebels and is tied for fourth in the SEC with 8.3 tackles per game. Earlier this season, Sanford equaled his career best with 13 total stops against Memphis. Junior safety Kendrick Lewis is tied for third in the conference with four passes defended.
Following a 38-21 win over Rice in its last outing, Vanderbilt is 3-0 for the first time since the 2005 season. In fact, it is only the second time the Commodores have accomplished the feat since the 1984 season. Vanderbilt ranks second in the SEC in rushing offense as senior quarterback Chris Nickson (89.3 ypg, five TDs) and junior running back Jared Hawkins (80.7 ypg, three TDs) both rank among the league leaders.
Defensively, Vanderbilt tops the SEC in sacks with 10 and rank second in interceptions with six. Junior linebacker Patrick Benoist is the league's top tackler with 30 total stops.
"I think this is one of Bobby Johnson's better years, besides when he had (Jay) Cutler at the helm," Nutt said. "Nickson is a different type of quarterback. He is more athletic and can escape problems. Their defense has really improved. I think they're one of the better defenses he's had. They're sound and they will hit you."
Saturday's game will be the 83rd meeting between Ole Miss and Vanderbilt dating back to 1984. The Rebels lead the series 46-34-2 and have won 12 of the last 15 meetings since 1992. Ole Miss holds a 22-3 advantage in games played in Oxford and have won four straight, including a 17-10 victory in 2006.
OleMissSports.com will provide live audio, live stats and an in-game blog for the game. The official Rebel athletics website will also provide a full game recap, photo gallery and postgame video coverage at the game's conclusion.
